My Chi pup is 3 months old and I find that he is a hoover vacuum when it comes to picking up small stuff off the floor and eating everything. I started vacuuming 3x a week but he still finds some tiny crap on the floor and eats it. I get frustrated and tell him no and try to get it out of his mouth. He recently started to run and then hold his mouth shut when i try to take it out. Would you correct this and how?

Also he is an avid licker, especially of the face and sometimes uses his teeth but i don't think he is being aggressive. I allow one kiss but anything after that is just too much. Sometimes when he is extra excited he gives a tiny bite but i don't think its him being aggressive. Would you correct this and how?

We are dealing with this with our 8 month old maltese. I think this is a dog thing and he will grow out of it. My Lulu is 4yr old and she did this for a while, but she eventually stopped. We used to call her our little scaverger. I think you are doing all you can do as long as you make sure in between vaccuuming there is nothing dangerous he can get ahold of. Of course if anyone wlse has any suggestions I would love to hear for our maltese also. As far as the licking, Lulu likes to lick, but I just can't do the licking thing. He will learn not to lick with consistent teaching. I can say to Lulu, "Don't lick," and she will stop. Do remember though that sometimes licking is a way for them to relieve stress and sometimes you just have to grin and bear a little for them. You as their owner will know that best.

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"A dog wags its tail with its heart." Martin Buxbaum

lol, my 4 month old does these exact things.

We practice the 'drop' command with his toys, and I think that helps when he has something in his mouth. When he's got something small and interesting in his mouth, he doesn't drop very well yet, but I think he gets the idea and I can fish it out to see what it is. Sometimes I give it back, sometimes I take it away. We are working together to figure this out. I live in the country, so he'll be eating all kinds of stuff, so in some senses I think he just needs to learn. I offer lots of toys to keep him entertained, but he's certainly a hover too !

For the biting/licking/jumping at my face, I say 'ouchie' and pretend he's hurting me. He gets it and licks me. He's doing the same thing to my larger dogs, so he's learning how hard he can play with all of us. Sometimes it is just a matter of keeping my face where he can't get it if he's overly excited. I encourage sweet kisses (he likes to lick my ear), and act hurt when he's being too rough. He'll lick me to say he's sorry. So cute !

We are learning everyday !

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Here are pictures of Barney: Flickr: Crochet Bouquet's Photostream

Try teaching him the 'leave it' command. Give him a toy. then offer him a better treat and say "leave it" and give the treat. Trade each time and say "leave it" each time until he willing lets things go for you. Chasing and grabbing at him and trying to get something out of his mouth just scares him. Teach him if he leaves it, he gets a treat. Start with very short training sessions as he is just a puppy and try to leave it on a postive note. As for licking, that is a survival instinct for puppies, placating the authority figure in their life. As he gets older, he should outgrow a lot of that.

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Thank you Jan for the wonderful siggy!

Thanks for all the responses. I def have to start teaching him the leave it or drop it command.

i love Calista's little love bites... she likes to nibble when she is grooming me. I would say it is definitely not aggression.
If you manage to stop the running away with mouth closed... let me know it is lissy's favourite trick!

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First of all having 3 puppies I can assure you that they will not die from eating stuff off of your floor. So I would suggest relaxing a little.

Now on the running off with stuff in his mouth.. this is stage one of resource guarding and this will get worse as he gets older if not handled. In the dog world ownership really comes down to possession so in his doggie mind that is his and you are being rude to steal it. The best and easiest thing to do is trade. Offer a treat or toy and he will probably drop what he has to take the new cool stuff you are offering up. This is a great way to also teach him what things are his and it keeps the resource guarding at bay. He doesnt need to guard stuff bc you arent taking his stuff.

The licking biting will improve a lot over the next few weeks. At 3 mos Cinna was the 'bitey puppy' but at 4 months she is fine. Licking is a calming signal to calm herself and/or you. The biting is puppy play behavior to show you that she is just a puppy and not a 'threat'. Look up so he can only lick your chin. Look bored, yawn, sigh, and avoid eye contact. These are calming signals you are sending back to her that tells her you know she is not a threat, every is all good, and she should settle down and chill.

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Michelle and..
Susu, Ginger, Cori, Cinna & Fen say Hi!

Having dogs is like having beautiful innocent children who never grow up.
All the best parts of childhood are right there with wagging tails.

Anyone who ever wondered if I was crazy lost all doubt once they saw me with 5 chihuahuas in clothes!!

Gracie outgrew it. Diesel is still going through it.

Gracie tried to eat every rock she saw - I'm sure she got away with actually swallowing one now and then. It seems like every word out of my mouth for the past year has been "Drop it"...

Both are lickers. I have tried and tried to curb it, but I finally came to terms with it being how they show me that they love me. I still discourage it, but I do allow one little kiss now and then.

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